Linux Newbie

jsilburt · 09-12-2005, 11:35 AM

Ok i just finished installing Slackware's version of Linux. Its loaded. but its a just a dos prompt login screen. What do i do? how do i get to the windowing view of Linux

Aeuzent · 09-12-2005, 02:10 PM

Well for starters it's called the terminal or the shell, not a dos prompt.

As for your problem, did you install a gui?

Try typing in "gdm" or "kdm", if nothing comes up then you didn't install a GUI.

Scooped · 09-12-2005, 05:07 PM

Well, assuming you did a full install, type startx to load the your default window manager, or desktop environment.

jsilburt · 09-12-2005, 08:44 PM

The screen says

Welcome to Linux 2.4.29 (tty1)

Darkstar login:

But the problem is that I didn't set any user name or password anywhere during the install. What do i do? is there some sort of default user name and password. HEEELLLLPPPPP

**LoneWolf071** · 09-12-2005, 08:54 PM

lol, that's the login... you are root... type root then the password if it asks, if not, then you are root, the superuser...

Aeuzent · 09-12-2005, 09:22 PM

If you didn't create a login in and didn't specify a root password then you can't use linux. You have to re-install.

jsilburt · 09-12-2005, 09:32 PM

linux idiot here again.

Ok so i am in KDE enviorment. Wondering about in circles. What I want to do is to get apache running on my new linux box. So i thought my first object shoudl be to set up my network. I run a local lan here at my house. Problem is i dont' even know how to set that up. I am soo lost. I need a really good help menu but the help menu seems to be pretty usesless.

Help please

Aeuzent · 09-12-2005, 09:59 PM

Well your LAN should be autoconfigured by the linux install. As for apache I don't know what kind of package tools slackware has so your probally gonna have to install the hard way.

http://httpd.apache.org/
You'll have to compile from the source and register the services and such.

If you were using a debian based distro however installing apache would be as easy as typing "apt-get install apache"

Just a thought

jsilburt · 09-12-2005, 10:08 PM

first off isthere a way to check to see if i have an ip address?

also could you point me in the direction of some instructions on how to compile from the source and registar.....

I am a pretty advanced windows user but I am brand spankin new on linux world. I am trying to expand my computer knowledge so this is my new little project.

Aeuzent · 09-12-2005, 10:40 PM

Well Slackware is a bit advanced for a newbie with no terminal experience. I'd suggest Ubuntu instead just to get going.

As far as checking your network. Typing in "ifconfig" with no arguments should show your network cards, mac addresses and your ip.

Also if you can get on the internet at all you have an ip.

jsilburt · 09-13-2005, 09:21 AM

Well i am definatly a newbie. where would i locate a copy of ubuntu?

thanks

Aeuzent · 09-13-2005, 01:59 PM

http://ubuntulinux.org/

Scooped · 09-13-2005, 04:23 PM

Just stick to slack, you'll learn much faster, since you'll be forced to learn.

http://shilo.is-a-geek.com

A good place for new slackers to start out at.

BTW, make sure you make a seperate account other than root!

Sean34993 · 10-07-2005, 03:43 PM

Sorry, but I'm not even to the level of newbie in linux yet. I'm planning on getting another machine and putting mandrake/mandriva on it but I'm not there yet.

Why is it so important that you create a user other than root and NEVER log into root unless making significant changes. What can you do to mess up your system so much in linux under the root account that you couldn't mess up in another os using a user with admin privilages? Is it good to create something else just because you can?

I apologize for my ignorance in advance.

Volt-Schwibe · 10-07-2005, 03:59 PM

part of it has to do with the fact that whatever account you are logged into, sets the privledges for any program you run.

you log in as root, and fire up a browser, or anything, and that application has root access without asking for it.

however, if you make a "user" account, and log into that, you will be asked to ok it if a program you are using tries to gain root privledges, and you have a chance to say no.

**Resolution** · 10-07-2005, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean34993

Why is it so important that you create a user other than root and NEVER log into root unless making significant changes. What can you do to mess up your system so much in linux under the root account that you couldn't mess up in another os using a user with admin privilages? Is it good to create something else just because you can?

It's common sense. Root is "all powerful" and when you delete something on Linux, it's not coming back. There is no Recycle bin where you can restore your files. It's a lot easier to screw something up on Linux than it is on Windows. Running as a less privileged user prevents you from removing important system files or worse.

Here is one of the many Beginning Linux guides on the net which also explains why you shouldn't run as root.

Two other links you might find useful are the Linux Newbie Administrator Guide and the Linux Documentation Project.

09-12-2005, 11:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
jsilburt Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 110 OS: XP Home	Linux Newbie Ok i just finished installing Slackware's version of Linux. Its loaded. but its a just a dos prompt login screen. What do i do? how do i get to the windowing view of Linux

09-12-2005, 08:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
LoneWolf071 Be Free Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 840 OS: Windows XP, Linux	lol, that's the login... you are root... type root then the password if it asks, if not, then you are root, the superuser... __________________ Suicide Command in Linux : rm -rf / ;) AIM:TheLoneWolf071@aim.com--If You Need Help, Don't Hesitate...

10-07-2005, 03:59 PM	#15 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,372 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	part of it has to do with the fact that whatever account you are logged into, sets the privledges for any program you run. you log in as root, and fire up a browser, or anything, and that application has root access without asking for it. however, if you make a "user" account, and log into that, you will be asked to ok it if a program you are using tries to gain root privledges, and you have a chance to say no. __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? Power Tip: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. New Members: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature>

09-12-2005, 02:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Aeuzent Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 370 OS: XP SP2	Well for starters it's called the terminal or the shell, not a dos prompt. As for your problem, did you install a gui? Try typing in "gdm" or "kdm", if nothing comes up then you didn't install a GUI.

09-12-2005, 05:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Scooped Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 58 OS: Triple Booting: XP/Slacky/FreeBSD	Well, assuming you did a full install, type startx to load the your default window manager, or desktop environment.

09-12-2005, 08:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
jsilburt Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 110 OS: XP Home	The screen says Welcome to Linux 2.4.29 (tty1) Darkstar login: But the problem is that I didn't set any user name or password anywhere during the install. What do i do? is there some sort of default user name and password. HEEELLLLPPPPP

09-12-2005, 09:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
Aeuzent Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 370 OS: XP SP2	If you didn't create a login in and didn't specify a root password then you can't use linux. You have to re-install.

09-12-2005, 09:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
jsilburt Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 110 OS: XP Home	linux idiot here again. Ok so i am in KDE enviorment. Wondering about in circles. What I want to do is to get apache running on my new linux box. So i thought my first object shoudl be to set up my network. I run a local lan here at my house. Problem is i dont' even know how to set that up. I am soo lost. I need a really good help menu but the help menu seems to be pretty usesless. Help please

09-12-2005, 09:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Aeuzent Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 370 OS: XP SP2	Well your LAN should be autoconfigured by the linux install. As for apache I don't know what kind of package tools slackware has so your probally gonna have to install the hard way. http://httpd.apache.org/ You'll have to compile from the source and register the services and such. If you were using a debian based distro however installing apache would be as easy as typing "apt-get install apache" Just a thought

09-12-2005, 10:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
jsilburt Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 110 OS: XP Home	first off isthere a way to check to see if i have an ip address? also could you point me in the direction of some instructions on how to compile from the source and registar..... I am a pretty advanced windows user but I am brand spankin new on linux world. I am trying to expand my computer knowledge so this is my new little project.

09-12-2005, 10:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
Aeuzent Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 370 OS: XP SP2	Well Slackware is a bit advanced for a newbie with no terminal experience. I'd suggest Ubuntu instead just to get going. As far as checking your network. Typing in "ifconfig" with no arguments should show your network cards, mac addresses and your ip. Also if you can get on the internet at all you have an ip.

09-13-2005, 09:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
jsilburt Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 110 OS: XP Home	Well i am definatly a newbie. where would i locate a copy of ubuntu? thanks

09-13-2005, 01:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
Aeuzent Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 370 OS: XP SP2	http://ubuntulinux.org/

09-13-2005, 04:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
Scooped Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 58 OS: Triple Booting: XP/Slacky/FreeBSD	Just stick to slack, you'll learn much faster, since you'll be forced to learn. http://shilo.is-a-geek.com A good place for new slackers to start out at. BTW, make sure you make a seperate account other than root!

10-07-2005, 03:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
Sean34993 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9 OS: ME	Sorry, but I'm not even to the level of newbie in linux yet. I'm planning on getting another machine and putting mandrake/mandriva on it but I'm not there yet. Why is it so important that you create a user other than root and NEVER log into root unless making significant changes. What can you do to mess up your system so much in linux under the root account that you couldn't mess up in another os using a user with admin privilages? Is it good to create something else just because you can? I apologize for my ignorance in advance.